Who’s Next? Superspeedways are Super to First Time Winners

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The helmet of Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly/American Diabetes Association Ford, sits atop his car during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo - Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

The helmet of Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly/American Diabetes Association Ford, sits atop his car during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Earlier this season Ryan Reed became the seventh driver in series history to get his first NASCAR XFINITY Series career win at a superspeedway.

Who’s next?

Of the seven drivers who posted their first series career win at a superspeedway, only two have done it at Talladega – David Ragan (2009) and Greg Sacks (1996). The remaining five first-time winners all claimed their first victory at Daytona – Ryan Reed (2015), James Buescher (2012), Tony Stewart (2005), Chad Little (1995) and Dale Earnhardt (1982). 

Three drivers in the top-ten in points are still looking for their first career NASCAR XFINITY Series win – Darrell Wallace Jr, Brian Scott and Daniel Suarez. Could these three be next on the list of NXS superspeedway first-time winners?

Roush Fenway Racing’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Darrell Wallace Jr. is now fourth in series points, having posted two top-ten finishes this season. Wallace, an Alabama native, looked strong at Daytona earlier this season, leading 18 laps and finishing 12th in the season opener. Wallace made his series track début last season at Talladega Superspeedway where starting in  third, he was in a five car accident on lap 45 that relegated him to a 31st-place finish. If Wallace can stay clear of trouble expect him to vie for the checkered flag on Saturday.

Richard Childress Racing’s Brian Scott is still looking for his first series career win. Scott is in his sixth full-time season and third with Richard Childress Racing. Scott has made five starts at Talladega posting one top-ten and an average finish of 23.4.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s latest wealth of talent comes from Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Daniel Suarez. Suarez took over the rookie standings lead from Darrell Wallace Jr. last weekend following his sixth-place finish at Richmond. Suarez is now tenth in the series driver standings, 53 points behind points leader Ty Dillon. Suarez, who last season finished 15th at Talladega in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will make his XFINITY Series début at the 2.66-mile track on Saturday.